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The Venture Matrix Scheme - Sheffield Hallam University

Venture Matrix RGB smallThe Venture Matrix scheme is a work-based learning scheme that aims to improve the student's employability skills and enhances their entrepreneurial and enterprise capabilities as part of their academic studies. Within the Venture Matrix students are given the chance to tackle real-life challenges within a safe and secure environment, whilst gaining new skills for their future employment. Students are able to set up their own simulated ventures or social enterprise and trade with each other, mirroring the real world, but in a risk-free environment. The Venture Matrix does not only involve Sheffield Hallam students and staff, but also organisations, businesses, and schools and colleges within the local region, who form part of the Venture Matrix community too.

Type Undergraduate
Impacts

Risk free environment to tackle real-world business challenges

Over 70 organisations and businesses are currently providing projects to Venture Matrix students.

• Cross – University involvement

Over 50 modules involving approximately 1600 students are taking part in the Venture Matrix scheme during 2011-2012. This is promoting cross-disciple working amongst students and staff.

• Embeds enterprise skills and experiential learning into course provision

Students gain credits for their Venture Matrix activities as part of curriculum.

• Work with local secondary school and FE college students

Over 90 Venture Matrix students supported 800 school and college pupils with their short-term businesses as part of a city-wide enterprise initiative.

What worked well

The Venture Matrix has grown significantly over the last 3 academic years from 185 to 1600 students. It is now recognised within Sheffield Hallam as a proven model for providing real world experience to students and as a means to embed enterprise within curriculum. In addition, we have received considerable feedback from students, who are using their Venture Matrix experience at job interviews to make them stand out from the crowd.

What could be changed/improved

Currently only a small handful of Venture Matrix students have made the leap from running their virtual business as part of their curriculum to setting up a real business on graduation.

Partners

All Sheffield Schools and Colleges participating in the city-wide enterprise initiative, the BiG Challenge

Over 70 private, public & not for profit organisations in the South Yorkshire sub-region.

Funders

Sheffield Hallam University & ERDF

Website link http://www.shu.ac.uk/venturematrix
Contact Details

Charmaine Myers
Project Director - Venture Matrix

Sheffield Hallam University

Tel: 0114 225 3461

Email: C.E.Myers@shu.ac.uk

http://www.shu.ac.uk/venturematrix

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